Economic Challenge or Opportunity – What Are Architecture & Engineering Firms Experiencing?

How is the economic slowdown affecting the architecture and engineering industry?

Today, as a result of economic uncertainty, many companies face difficulties in hiring highly skilled workers. This in turn impacts the architectural and engineering industry, where projects require long-term planning and short-term coordination of resources. To better understand these challenges, we interviewed Paul Boland, CFO of Optimised Environments (OPEN), a landscape and urban planning company.

Recently, the architecture and engineering industry has experienced a different reality from previous periods of economic uncertainty. Paul commented, “It seems to be a different kind of slowdown. We always have projects that come to us – we just need to have the right resources for those projects. ” However, as the demand for jobs persists and the supply of suitable candidates lags, companies must find new ways to keep projects moving.

For Optimized Environments (OPEN), diversification is key to business continuity. Paul explained: “We are busier than ever because we work in different sectors. When the construction slowed down, we saw a recovery in the renewable energy sector – and now we’re doing a lot of visual impact assessments on offshore wind farms across the UK. ”

Project management solutions are key to eliminating resource bottlenecks. With updated project plans, companies have better visibility of available resources and can better manage their allocation to fill expertise gaps. However, there is still the challenge of attracting and retaining the best talent that is negatively impacting many companies in the A&E sector. In the Deltek Clarity report, as many as 40% of companies surveyed in the industry confirmed that they have difficulty attracting and retaining talent.

It is also important to adapt to new technologies that allow maximum use of new opportunities. While it may be difficult to find the time to change existing systems, OPEN recommends careful planning and testing of the product for several months to fully understand its functionality and effectiveness. The right technologies, such as ERP systems, facilitate project management, resource availability, and the identification and filling of expertise gaps.

Faced with the economic downturn, adapting to new conditions, diversifying as well as investing in the right technologies and recruiting the right professionals are crucial for the future development of the architecture and engineering industry. Thanks to this, companies will be able to effectively fill positions requiring high qualifications and continue successfully running their projects.